Hi! Like many in our Illustrators’ Table group, I’m a writer/illustrator. With a freelance career in magazine/educational illustration and graphic design mostly behind me, I’m feeling incredibly lucky to spend my time with family, friends, a few long-term clients—and my own much-delayed projects.
That means writing and illustrating children’s books.
That means writing and illustrating children’s books.
However, aside from this joy, it’s also just a teensy bit terrifying.
In the past, I managed to submit my own projects only a few times. I had some successes, but mostly, I wrote, I sketched, but I didn’t submit—sidestepping fear with the excuse of being too busy.
That excuse doesn’t work anymore.
So, now, with backup from Carol Heyer and the Illustrators' Table critique group, I practice imagining my fears as a crowd walking the opposite direction, blocking my way. Instead of getting stopped, I work on slipping past. Finding other ways through the crowd.
Shhh! Don’t tell my fears. It’s working.
In the past, I managed to submit my own projects only a few times. I had some successes, but mostly, I wrote, I sketched, but I didn’t submit—sidestepping fear with the excuse of being too busy.
That excuse doesn’t work anymore.
So, now, with backup from Carol Heyer and the Illustrators' Table critique group, I practice imagining my fears as a crowd walking the opposite direction, blocking my way. Instead of getting stopped, I work on slipping past. Finding other ways through the crowd.
Shhh! Don’t tell my fears. It’s working.
I hope whatever stage your career is at, you find the inspiration* and support to slip by your obstacles, too.
~ Siri
*Publishing Info Links
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
An international professional organization of wonderful writers and illustrators of children’s and young adult books. It’s based on a culture of sharing knowledge, not hoarding it. Best member benefits:
Writers Digest, Children’s Books
Manuscript Wishlist What editors and agents are looking for.
Kathy Temean runs a generous blog, sharing information about illustrating and writing for children, interviews with children’s publishing professionals on both sides of the transom, including agents, book giveaways and more.
Deborah Halverson was an editor at Harcourt Children’s Books, is now a freelance editor and writer/advisor with right-on answers to publishing questions.
Jane Friedman, a practical and smart non-fiction and any-sort-of-writing editor, who also has good advice about handling social media and wordpress websites.
Query Shark, Literary agent Janet Reid’s right-on advice for writing effective fiction query letters.
Children’s Book Award-Winners
YouTube Inspiration for Illustrators
Will Terry, a children’s illustrator and teacher, has a great series of informational videos about being an illustrator on youtube.
Simona Ceccarelli shows a time-lapse workflow as she creates an intricate children’s illustration with the iPad Pro and ProCreate, discussing the differences between working with ProCreate and Photoshop.
Yuyi Morales describing how she became a children’s book illustrator and writer. It’s good, but long. Skip to the second half for the most examples of her work/thought process.
Marks & Splashes Learning, Mark G. Mitchell's youtube channel, featuring illustration agents and illustrators giving two-part interviews that cover illustration prompts and critiques for the members. The information from the guest agents and illustrators is good for more experienced illustrators, too.
~ Siri
*Publishing Info Links
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
An international professional organization of wonderful writers and illustrators of children’s and young adult books. It’s based on a culture of sharing knowledge, not hoarding it. Best member benefits:
- learning professional-level standards in children’s publishing (it’s not as easy as most people think);
- meeting other SCBWI members (it’s amazing how good it feels to talk with people who care about the same things and share their knowledge);
- connections to critique groups (a productive critique group is like a fast-forward button for writing/illustrating skills—and courage);
- “The Book,” a listing of publishers and agents; and
- online venues to showcase illustrations, list published books, apply for awards and grants, industry news, message boards, etc..
Writers Digest, Children’s Books
Manuscript Wishlist What editors and agents are looking for.
Kathy Temean runs a generous blog, sharing information about illustrating and writing for children, interviews with children’s publishing professionals on both sides of the transom, including agents, book giveaways and more.
Deborah Halverson was an editor at Harcourt Children’s Books, is now a freelance editor and writer/advisor with right-on answers to publishing questions.
Jane Friedman, a practical and smart non-fiction and any-sort-of-writing editor, who also has good advice about handling social media and wordpress websites.
Query Shark, Literary agent Janet Reid’s right-on advice for writing effective fiction query letters.
Children’s Book Award-Winners
YouTube Inspiration for Illustrators
Will Terry, a children’s illustrator and teacher, has a great series of informational videos about being an illustrator on youtube.
Simona Ceccarelli shows a time-lapse workflow as she creates an intricate children’s illustration with the iPad Pro and ProCreate, discussing the differences between working with ProCreate and Photoshop.
Yuyi Morales describing how she became a children’s book illustrator and writer. It’s good, but long. Skip to the second half for the most examples of her work/thought process.
Marks & Splashes Learning, Mark G. Mitchell's youtube channel, featuring illustration agents and illustrators giving two-part interviews that cover illustration prompts and critiques for the members. The information from the guest agents and illustrators is good for more experienced illustrators, too.
RSS Feed